Music review: Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie
I am proud to say that I am one of the music fanatics that helped make Fleetwood Mac鈥檚 鈥淩umours鈥� one of the highest-selling albums of all time.
I was instantly drawn to the band鈥檚 1977 masterpiece like a moth to a flame and secured my purchase as soon as it was released.
It鈥檚 one of those albums that reaches perfection by highlighting the pain and turmoil of imperfection occurring within the band at the time.
鈥淩umours鈥� brilliantly showcased the songwriting prowess of Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks through tracks like 鈥淕o Your Own Way,鈥� 鈥淵ou Make Loving Fun鈥� and 鈥淒reams.鈥�
The marvelous songwriting of Buckingham and McVie continues on the duo鈥檚 first-time collaboration together simply titled 鈥淟indsey Buckingham/Christine McVie.鈥�
With plans in the works to get all the members of Fleetwood Mac back into the studio for a new album, Buckingham and McVie started working on arrangements for the 10-song set.
When Nicks decided to back out of the plans, Buckingham and McVie continued to push forward with the new release, along with Mick Fleetwood and John McVie securing the familiar rhythm section for the new tunes.
As with most Fleetwood Mac albums and Buckingham solo releases, the musicianship is top-notch and the production quality is simply breathtaking as Buckingham and McVie haven鈥檛 missed a beat since the vintage days of 鈥淪econd Hand News鈥� and 鈥淒on鈥檛 Stop.鈥�
鈥淪he called to me/Meet me at the border,鈥� sings Buckingham in a weary voice on the album opener 鈥淪leeping Around the Corner.鈥� The reworked number originally appearing on Buckingham鈥檚 2011 鈥淪eeds We Sow鈥� transitions from a soft beginning into a rousing pop number sparked by the beautiful harmonies of Buckingham and McVie.
Traces of classic Fleetwood Mac can be heard on a number of standout tracks.
鈥淭oo Far Gone鈥� is fueled by McVie鈥檚 spirited vocals and Buckingham鈥檚 driving guitar, but Fleetwood鈥檚 tribal drumming steals the show just as it did on 1979鈥檚 鈥淭usk.鈥�
Reminiscent of the lovely and fragile 鈥淪ongbird鈥� from 鈥淩umours,鈥� 鈥淕ame of Pretend鈥� also intimately features McVie and her piano offering up a tender love ballad about washing away the emptiness and discovering real happiness.
鈥淐arnival Begin鈥� brings things to a mystical close with McVie dreamily singing, 鈥淚 always wondered if you ever missed me.鈥� Truth be told, I鈥檝e certainly missed Fleetwood Mac鈥檚 literate and theatrical musings of the 鈥�70s.
Welcome back old friends.
Hopefully, Nicks will give the new album a listen and smartly decide to rejoin the party.
鈥斺赌�
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.